Grate



. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. N. HUSTON. G-RATE.

No. 544,408. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

A TTOHNEY.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. N. HUSTON..

GRATE. No. 544,408. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 3.

J. N. HUSTON.

GRATB N0. 544,408. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

BY m/mf ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JOI-IN NEWTON HUSTON, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

GRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,408, dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed March 9, 1895.L

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN NEWTON HUS- TON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to grates and grate-bars, and more particularly to such as are constructed to be used in furnaces, the object being to provide a forced draft and apply the same in such a manner so as to assist the natural draft, to construct and dispose the rocker and blast bars in alternate relation, whereby the top surface of the grate presents alternate ridges and depressions appearin g as a corrugated surface to dispose the parts so that the jets from the opposite sides of contiguous blast-bars will intersect above the rocker-bars, and, lastly, to so improve the general construction that the blast-bars can be readily replaced when warped or burned out, the ashes being easily and effectually shaken out, and the escape-openings in the blast-pipes be cleared from the fuel and the ashes, whereby the eiiciency of the furnace may be maintained at all times.

The improvements con-sist of the novel fea tures which hereinafter will be more fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-e Figure l is a top plan view of a section of grate embodying the invention, the blastpipe being shown centrally disposed and forming a support for the rocker and blast bars midway of their ends. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the grate and the devices for actuating the rocker-bars, the side walls, and the bearingbars, and the blast feed-pipe being in section. Fig. 3 is a section on the line .fr of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4.- is a top plan view of a section of grate, showing the rocker and the blast bars supported at their ends only, the blast feed-pipe forming one end bearing. Fig. 5 is a side eleva# tion of the rocker-bar shown in Fig. 4, the end bearings and the operating-rod being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a detail view, on a larger scale, showing the rocker and the Serial No. 541,150. (No model.)

blast bars in section and the blast-jets and the direction of the natural draft. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing more clearly the bevel slip-joint between the blast-bars and the blast feed-pipe. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the means for closing au openingin the blast feedpipe after a blast-bar has been disconnected.

A grate constructed in accordance with and embodying the essential principles of my in- 6o vention is especially adapted for burning fuel requiring forced draft-such as coal refuse, wet sawdust, tan-bark, bagasse, andthe likeand the grate-bars will not burn out in a comparative short time by constant use, because the combustion takes place above the gratebars and not between them, as in grates of usual construction. The relative disposition of the rocker and the blast bars will be the same in all styles of furnaces; but the length 7c will Vary and depend upon the depth of the lire-box.

As shown in Figs. i, 2, and 3, the bars are supported at their ends in end bearing-bars A and between their ends by the blast feedpipe B. The blast-bars C extend the full depth of the fire-box and make connection vwith the blast feed-pipe B midway of their ends. The rocker-bars D may also extend the full length of the hre-box; but it is pre- 8o ferred to have each composed of similar sections or bars, which are supported at theirinner ends in the lugs 2 on the blast feed-pipe and at their outer ends in suitable bearings in the end bars A.

The manner'of rocking the bars D is immaterial and any desired means for effecting this result may be provided. Where the bars D are provided in two sets it is desirable to have the bars of each set connected in series by a 9o simple operating-bar E and to have the two bars E coupled to a single rod F, which has its end extended through the furnace-wall to receive a handle or lever, by means of which the bolting of rocker-bars can be simultaneg5 ously actuated when required.

The bars E are pivotally connected to arms e, cast with the rocker-bars D, and with arms Gf on the rod F, by pitman f. The feed blastpipe B will be of sufficient capacity to supply roo all the distributing blast-bars O connected therewith and will be firmly built in the furnace structure, the blast being sufficient from any form of blower as in any of the usual ways.

In Figs. t and 5 the blast-bars andthe rockerbars are shown of the same length, which corresponds with the depth of the fire-box, and are supported at one end by a bearing-bar A and at the other end by the blast feed-pipe B. In this form of grate the arms e are provided at the ends of the bars D and are pivotally attached to the bar E, which is actuated in any convenient manner.

The blast-bars C are preferably rectangular in cross-section and are set with their opposite corners in vertical and horizontal relation and with the upper portion above the top sur face of the rocker-bars. Thereby the completed grate presents a corrugated or ribbed appearance. These blast-bars are hollow and have their ends closed by plugs 3, which are removable to admit of access to the interior for purposes of cleaning, the said plugs preferably coming flush with the ends of the bars and held in place by a screw-joint. 'lhe oppositelydisposed sides of the upper portion are alone perforated for the escape of jets above the top of the grate. The side being in-\ clined andthe outward orifices therein being correspondinglyinclined, the jets take an inclined direction, so that the jets from the opposing sides of two contiguous blast-bars 'iuterseet directly above the rocker-bars and create a vacuum which results in an increased natural draft.

The coupling between the blast feed-pipe and the blast-bars is a slip-joint formed by a female socket et on the blast-bar and a male socket 5 on the blast feed-pipe, the engaging faces of the two sockets being beveled and finished to a standard size to admit of the interchangeability of the blast-bars.

Vhen from any cause it is necessary to remove a blast-bar, the opening in the male socket 5 is closed by a headed plug 6, the latter being dropped into the opening after the blast-bar is removed. It will thus be seen from the foregoing that the forced draft is applied to the best possible advantage to promote combustion and at the same time assist the natural draft, and that the blast and the rocker bars are disposed to the best possible advantage to attain simplicity of construction and avoid a too-rapid burning of the gratebars in the efficient working of the grate. The several bars can be quickly replaced by new ones when required or removed and replaced when repairs are necessary.

l claim- In a furnace grate the combination of a bearing bar, a blast feed pipe extending parallel with the bearing bar and having male sockets at intervals in its length, hollow blast bars arranged in parallel relation and supported on the bearing bar and the blast feed pipe and having pendent female sockets to form a slip joint with the said male sockets, the engaging faces of the two sockets being beveled, said hollow blast bars being rectangular and placed with their opposite angles in vertical and horizontal relation, and having the upper sides perforated, and rocker bars disposed between the blast bars and having their upper faces about in a plane corresponding with the plane of the horizontally disposed angles of the blast bars, whereby alternate ribs and depressions are formed, and whereby the jets from adjacent blast bars will intersect over the rocker bars and create a forced draft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN NEWTON lIUS'lON.

Witnesses:

J, G. MORRISON, J. C. MAY. 

